Float for sport, pleasure, and rescue use



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ll (l Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES CHARLES HUNT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FLOAT FOR SPORT, PLEASURE, AND RESCUE USE.

Application filed January 22, 1924.

To Vf//ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES HUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at VashingtOn, District of Columbia, have invented Floats for Sport, Pleasure, and Rescue Use, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a float, and more particularly to a device to float on water and is adapted to support one or more persons as a ducking; blind, for use in a wellY known manner. or may be used as a recreation iioat at bathing beaches or the like, as a pleasure float, or by a slight change, be con.- verted into a life raft for use in general rescue work, either from land or for'use on ships.

The object being` to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive device of the character referred to, that may be useful for sport purposes such as gunnincj, fishing and the like, as well as for amusement such as bathingand floating; about therein, or as a life raft that is adapted to be sufficiently broad to support a number of persons in the water. in fact, all that can grasp any part thereof, and is further provided with a receptacle into which one or more persons may be placed should it be necessary' for reasons such as exhaust-ion in rescue work.

These and other objects will appear in the following description and be finally pointed out in the claims.

Similar numerals indicate correspondingparts in all the figures of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved device arranged as a ducking' blind.

Fig'. 2 is a vertical section of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section showing the submerging valve, inlet pipe and tank.

Fig'. 4 is a similar' view of the submerging tank, exhaust pump and outlet pipe.

Fig. 5 is av detail horizontal section through one of the platform supporting brackets and its keeper, showing;` a fragment of the cylindrical body portion on which it is mounted.

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of the canopy or sunshade for use when the device is used as a recreation float at bathing' beaches or the like.

Fin'. 7 is a detail plan, on a small scale of the life raft attachment.

Reference now being had to the d rawing's by numerals, 1 indicates the preferable, cir- Serial N'o. 687,772.

cular, metal body portion of the float, which is open at its upper end and is provided with a tapered lower end as seen at 2.

A well 3 in which the feet of the occupant rest is formed by a cylindrical inner wall el, and extending' from said wall l to the body 1, is a circular seat 5, on which a cushion G, shown in dots, may be placed.

The triangular chamber 7 formed by the above named portions 2, l and 5, is air tight and functions as a float into which more or less water may be admitted for lsubmersion purposes or pumped out when the device is to fioat high in the water.

Near the upper open end of the body 1, a plate 8 is mounted having' a central opening 9 in which is mounted a flexible water sealing member 10. Said sealing member is preferably constructed of a flexible water proof material, secured at one end in a water tight manner, as seen at 11, to plate 8 and provided at its opposite end with a draw cord 12 passing through rings 13, thus providing' for securing the eXible member 10, about the waist of the body of the occupant of the fioat, preferably below the arm. Perforations 1st, through body portion 1, are provided immediately above the plate, to drain any water that may wash over the upper edge of said body portion.

Covered containers 15, provided with supporting hooks 16, are provided for ammunition., tools, lunch or otherv small articles, for use when the device is used in the form desired.

As above referred to, the submerging' chamber 7, is provided with an inlet pipe 17, controlled by valve 18, and is further provided with an. exhaustingpump 19, adapted to force the water out through pipe 20, and thereby cause the device to float higher in the water.

Fins 21, project out from the tapered lower portion of the body of the fioat, to provide stability and prevent rotation of the float in the water. Said fins 21, consist of plates preferably of metal secured by straps 22 to the body portion in any preferred manner.

As a further means of submerging the device under a lightload and providing,v for supporting` a considerable load when removed, a number of weights are located in the well 3, in a manner to provide considerable weight without requiring' but little space. A circular weight made up of seci. f

tions 23 having bars 24: for handling same, are provided, in the periphery of which, cutaway portions are provided, for the reception of the lower ends of vertically arranged weights 25, which are arranged around the wall of the well of the float and are out of the way.

A oating platform, preferably constructed of wood and made up of four sections :26, encircles the body portion 1 ofthe float, each section being provided with a bracket 9.7, provided with an extension 2S., adapted to slide in a keeper 29, mounted on the outer face of the body 1. l

Said floating platform, rests on the snrface of the water, irrespective of the depth of submersion of the body portion l and maintains same in a vert-ical position in the water.

For convenience in mooring the device, an anchor 30, may be provided having the rope secured over cleat 31, mounted on the platform 2G, in a position within reach of the occupant of the float. Then not in use the anchor may be shipped and carried 'on the platform.

For convenience in propelling the float an oar look 32, may be provided for the reception of an oar 33, for use in sculling the device from place to place.

In one of the modified uses of this device for instance, as a pleasure raft at bathing` beaches or the like, a canopy 341, see Fig. 6, may provided, having supports 35, mounted in any preferred manner on the body il, to protect the occupant from the rays of the sun or from rain.

ShouldV on the other hand, it be desired to use the device as a life raft, see 7, the platform 26, is removed, the brackets 27, are removed from the platform and inserted in a reversed position into the keepers 29. In said position, the brackets provide supports on which a frame 36, having pontoons 37', is mounted thereon and may be secured, thereby providing a life raft capable of supporting a heavy weight in the water.

The flexible sealing member l0, permits the occupant to stoop down and hide below the upper edge of the body portion l, of the float, when gunning, or will permit the cocupant to sit down on the seat portion 5, or on a cushion thereon, as shown in dots.

The body portion l, may be circular or square, and be provided with articles useful to the occupant whose arms are above the sealing member 10, and free lto reach anything above the plate 8.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A float comprising a body portion, a stabilizer for the body portion, means for retarding rotation of the body )lortion when floating, means for lowering tie body porn tion in the water and mea-ns for raising the body portion in the water, without affecting the stabilizer.

'2. A float comprising a body portion having' a central foot well and a seat, and means for excluding water from said parts, a Stabilizer for the body portion, means for retarding rotation of the body portion when floating, means for lowering the body portion in the water and means for raising the body portion in the water, without affecting the stabilizer.

3. A float comprising a body portion having a central foot well and a seat, and means for excluding water from said parts, consisting of a plate and a flexible sealing member, a stabilizer for the body portion, means for retarding rotation of the body portion when floating, means for 'lowering the 'body portion in the water and means for raising the body portion in the water, without affect ing the stabilizer.

` d. A float comprising a body portion having a central footwell and a seat, and means for excluding water from said parts, conf' sisting of a plate and aflexible sealing member, receptacle arranged above said sealing means, a stabilizer for the body portion, means for retarding rotation of the body portion when floating, means for lowering the body portion in the water and means for raising the body portion in the water, without affecting the stabilizer.

A float con'iprisln-g a body por-tion, a stabilizer' for lthe body portion, consisting of a platform encircling the body portion adopted to float on the surface of the water, means for re'tarding rotation of the body portion when itloating, means for lowering the body portion in the vvater, and means for raising the body portion in the wat-er, without affecting' 'the stabilizer.

G. A float comprising a body porti-on, a stabilizer' for the body portion, consisting of a platform encircling the body porti-on adapted to ioat on the surface of the water and is slida-bly connected to the body portion, means for retarding` rotation of the body portion 'when floating means for loweringthe body portion in the water, and means for raising the body portion in the water, without affecting the stabilizer.

7, A {ioat comprising a 'body portion, a stabilizer for the body portion, consisting of a platform encircling the body portion adapted to float on the surface of the water,

provided with brackets, slidably mounted inv keepers on the sides of the body portion, means Vor retarding rotation of the body portion. when floating, means for lowering the body portion in the water, and means for raising' the body portion in the water, without affecting the stabilizer.

8. A float comprising a body portion, a stabilizer for the body portion, means for retarding rotation of the body portion when floating, consisting of fins projecting laterally from the body portion beneath the water level, means for lowering the body portion in the water, and means for raising the body portion in the water, without affecting the Stabilizer.

9. A float comprising a body portion, a stabilizer for the body portion, means for retarding rotation of the body portion when flo-ating, means for lowering the body portion in the water, consisting of a concentric water-tight chamber, and means for admitting water thereinto, and means for raising the body portion in the water, without affecting' the stabilizer.

l0. A fioat comprising a body portion, a stabilizer' .for the body portion, means for retarding rota-tion of the body portion when floating'. means for lowering the body portion in the water, consisting of a concentric water-tight chamber beneath the water line and a valve controlled inlet pipe to Said chamber, and means for raising the body portion in the water, without affecting 4the stabilizer.

ll. A float comprising a body portion, a stabilizer for the body portion, means for retarding rotation of the body portion when floating, means for' lowering the body portion in the water, consisting of a tapered concentric chamber arranged at the lower end of the body portion and within the lateral dimensions thereof, and means for raising the body portion in the water, without affecting the stabilizer.

l2. A .float comprising a body portion, a stabilizer for the body portion, means for retarding rotation of the body portion when floating, means for lowering` the body portion in the water, consisting of a tapered concentric chamber arranged at the lower end of the body portion and within the lateral dimensions thereof, and weights arranged in the body portion, and means for raising the body portion in the water, without affecting the stabilizer'.

13. A float comprising a body portion, a stabilize-r for the body portion, means for retarding rotation of the body portion when floating, means for lowering the body portion in the water, consisting of a concentric water-tight chamber, and means for admitting water thereinto, and means for raising the body portion in the water consisting of' a pump adapted to discharge the water from said chamber, Without affecting the stabilizer.

14. A iioat for sport, pleasure and rescue use, comprising a body portion adapted to float as Various levels in theI water, a stabilizer slidably secured to the body portion, and adapted to flo-at on the surface of the water and maintain the body portion in an upright position, said body portion having a central foot well surrounded by a sea-t, a plate having a central opening sealed by a flexible occupant encircling member, receptacles arranged above said plate, said body portion having a tapered lower end, a submergin0` tank, and fins projecting from its side beneath the water, means for admitting water to the snbmerging tank and means for discharging the water from the snbmerging tank.

CHARLES HUNT. 

